Charging machine



May 2, 1933. D. BARR Er AL CHARGING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR` CLARE/vcr l). BAR/P STEPHEN 124/1 Filed Sept. 23, 1931 CHARGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25V, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mayv` 2, 1933 UNI-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLARENCE D. BARR, STEPHEN D. MOXLEY AN D FRANK. S. HOUGHTON", 0F BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, ASSIGNORS T0 SAND SPUN PATENTS CRIORATION, 0F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE v SHARGING MACHINE Application led September 23, 1931. Serial No. 564,690.

` 'Y r- Our present inventlon relates to certain new and useful improvements in mechanism for charging molten metal into the flask or iiasks of, a centrifugal casting machine or machines ofthe type wherein the ilask is provided with a refractory, such as a rammed sand lining. n

-Thc charging mechanism of the present invention is adapted nore especially for use in connection with centrifugal casting machines for casting pipes of large diameter as, for instance, a diameter of 14 inches and larger, and a length of 16 feet more or less, and wherein a relatively large amount of metal is employed in each casting, operation. In machines of this type it is desirable to begin the charging of the flask at a point .intermediate its ends and to then gradually discharge the metal lengthwise of the flask in order to insure an even distribution of the metal throughout the length of the flask, it being yunderstood that distribution is also effected by therotation of the iask in the casting operation. 'A

An object of .the invention 1s to provide a motor operated tilting ladle associated with a charging spout or trough, and with remote control means for tilting the' ladle.

A further object of the invention is t0 provide ,a charging means for centrifugal casting machines wherein the ladle for the molten metal is mounted-upon a travelling prises the features of construction and com-J carriage provided with a spout or charging trough adapted to be introduced into and withdrawn from the flask of a centrifugal casting machine. y v

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novelconstruction and arrangement of motor operated means for tilting fthe ladle of a charging mechanism for a centrifugal casting machine. A

To these andV other ends the invention combinations and arrangement of the various parts as hereinafter described and then more particularly pointed out` in the appended claims. In order'to enable others skilled in the art to understand, build and use our said invention, we will now proceed to describe the 'same in detail,`reference being had for this purpose to the accompanyoperating mechanism, the ladle being shown in f ullyY tilted position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the charging mechanism; and

Fig. 4 .is a lfrontelevation of the charging mechanlsm.

tion, showing the lost-motion connection between the speed-reducer crank and the link operated thereby.

In Fig. 1 we have shown the charging 70 mechanism in association with a centrifugal. casting machine, the lfiask of which is indicated by the reference letter A, the bell end of the flask being shown in this figure.

The charging mechanism is mounted upon 75 a carriage 1, supported upon wheels 2, travelling upon tracks 3, the .tracks beinglocated in front of and in line with the flask A.

The tracks 3 are provided at -their front 80 platform i of a Weighing scales mounted 85 above the pit 6, the said track sections being provided at their. rear ends with stops or bumpers 7.

' The carriage 1 is driven by an electric motor 8, through speed reducing gearing 9, .90

ofpany approved construction, which drives sprocket chain 10 passing around the sprocket wheel 12 attached to the front shaft 13v on which the frontvwheels 2 of the car are supported. The electric motor 8 is 95 preferablyy controlled by a switch located-S at a remote point or control station. .The reference numeral 14 designates a U-shaped pouring spout or trough having an outlet 15 at front end by means of 10Q s l es Fig. 5 is a detail plan view-,partly in secwhich molten metal poured into' the trough -may be .introduced into the flask A, as presently to he described. The trough 14 is supported intermediate its ends by means of a yoke 16, the yoke and its trough being in turn heldin position by means of opposed screws 17, each mounted in a bracket 18, supported upon the forward end of the carriage 1. The rear end of the trough pins 14', projecting from its opposite sides and which seat in Anotches formed in the lower` end of angle-iron uprights 20, as more clearly showni in Fig. 2. A removable and replaceable filler block 18', Fig.'4,' is arranged beneath the yoke 16, to permit vertical adjustment of thetrou'gh. By the ar-` rangement shown the trough may be. adf justed vertically as well as angularly in 'a vertical direction to bring its discharge 'end Yin proper relationship with the interior of the flask to be charged; A hopper 19 having lateral trunnions 20 is supported in seats at the upper end of brackets 20 rising from uthe carriage 1, fthe hopper having a spout 19 which discharges intothe open trough 14. The reference numeral 21 indicates a ladle having a pouring lip 22 which discharges into the hopper 1Q when the ladle is tilted and from this, into the trough 14. lThe forward end of the hopper has lateral projections 19" which rest upon, the upper edges of the trough 14 as shown in Fig. j The ladle 21 is supported by brackets 23,

vsecured to an oscillating `shaft 24, mounted for'oscillation in suitable bearings 25 rising from the carriage 1. The shaft 24 is oscillated by means of .a crank arm 26, secured to one endof-:shaft 24, which arm is oscillated by`a reciprocatory link 27, having a 'lost motion 'connection with the revolving crank 31 ofa` speed-reducing mechanism` 33. The' lxlost 'motion is accomplished by providing the link 27, with a slot 30, Fig. 2, carrying atslidable block in which is jour-v naled the pin 29, carried by crank 31, of the speed reducer33. The slaft 32 of speed reducing mechanism 33 is l driven by an electric motor 34, all of the parts referred to being mounted upon and supported by the carriage 1, as more clearly shown in the drawings The electric motor 34, is controlled by Va suitable controller from a re-1 motely located control station so that an operator by pressing a button or closing a switch may control -the operation of the motor and the tilting of the ladle. The motor '34, is provided with any well known type` of control for obtaining v.various speeds to molten metal is tilted.

The shaft 32, of the speed reducer 33, rotates to cause the crank 31, to make complete revolutions, whereas -the crank 26, mounted upon the shaft 24, is arranged to nocaut 4 oscillate only, and thus cause a back and4 degrees or approximately 90 degrees tothel ladle. The degreeA of tilt may be regulated by proportioning` the length of the op. erating levers. When the crank 31,.is in the position shown in Fig. 2, which. represents 180 degrees travel from the position vof the crank shown Vin Fig. 1, or a full stroke of the same, the ladle -21 will assume the eX-r treme pouring position shown in Fig. 2. In other words, a one-half .revolution of crank arm 31, describes a rotary motion of 90 degrees and continued rotation of crankv 31, through 180 degrees of a circle, returns the ladle 21 to its original position for refilling with the molten metal:

The connecting rod 27 is provided with a lost motion connection 29, with the crank 31, inI order to l'providea clearance between the parts to avoid jamming and shocks when the ladle is returned to normal position from its tilted position, In other words if, during@s the return movement of the ladle from tilted to normal position, any foreign material should become lodged under the seat ,of the ladle bracket to prevent the ladle from com-l ing back to rest in its true position, the lost;

motion connection between the pivot point- 29, of the rod 27, and the slot 30 will come into play, and thus prevent any jamming of the parts which mightl result in breakage thereof. Furthermore, it will be understood that lengthening or shortening of the slot 30, to give more or less lost motion 'also determines the point at which the ladle begins its tilting motion. This provides another means for varying the time required for tilting or pouringrthe molten metal from the ladle into the hopper 19, and from thence into the pouring spout or trough 14.

In order to provide a balance for the ladle i and assist the motor intilting the same, we

provide the oscillating shaft 24, with a pair of upwardly and forwardlyinclined arms 35, each, carrying lone or more removable counterweights 36,l which may be held in position on the arms by means of screws 37. These counterweights serve lto balance the ladle, and the molten iron therein to relieve the motor and thus permit more accurate y:speed regulation thereof. The number vor control the speed at whlch the ladlefor the\.\counterweights employed will vary accord ing to theamount of metal in the ladle, it belng understood that in practice-the ladle is suppliedwith only suicient metal to make a single cast. f i

, l x The electric motor 8', for driving carriage 1 may be of such'a type that the carriage vmay be driven either forward or backward to move the pouring spout 14 into'the flask A-and to remove the same therefrom, or the motor may be of such a type as to move the carriage 1 in one direction only, in which event the carriage may be moved in'the other direction manually. The operation of the' mechanism is as follows:

Assuming the carriage `to be in the position shown in Fig. 1 it-will be seen that the discharge end 15, of the trough is located well within tlie flask A, so as to discharge the molten metal substantiallyA midway between the ends of the flask. In this position the front-Wheels 2, of the carriage are resting against the stops or bumpers 4, which determine the forward position of the car-v riage and its trough. The bumpers may, if

desired, be adjusted longitudinally of the tracks to regulate orvchange the distance at which the free end of the trough enters the flask. The ladle 21 is .supplied with a predetermined amount of metal, which is weighed when the carriage is resting upon the track sections, supported by thescale platform to the left of Fig. 1. The carriage is then moved to theposition shown i`n Fig. 1, the motors Sand 34 arel then started by the remote control switches so that the carriage with its trough 14 begins to move rearwardly gradually withdrawing the trough fromthe flask and at the same time the ladle 21, is tilted as the carriage is retracted to rdischarge its molten metal into-the hopper the cycle of operation is repeated. It is obvious that the metal may be poured on either the forward or backward movement of the carriage, although we prefer to pour the metal while the trough is being withdrawn fromthe flask.

.As hereinbefore stated I prefer to control the movements of the carriage 1 and the tilting of the ladle 21'from a remote station at which a switchboard of suitable construction vmay be located and having controls for several carriages if desired.

In Fig. 1 I have shown in a more or les diagrammaticand conventional fashion one set of remote controls and their circuits leading to the -electric motor 8 for driving the vof which several may now be procured upon the open market, may be employed. In such controls it is usual "to provide push buttons or other forms of switches for controlling the-circuits to the motors. Im the conventional showing the panel 40 carries three push-buttons switches for causing the electric carriage-driving motor to operate to drive the carriagev either forward or backward and to stop its movement at will, while thepanel 41 carries two push button switch controls by which -the motor 34 may be started and stopped at will to tilt the ladle 21.

Whilewe have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of our invention we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the structures shown ,except as we may be limited to the terms of the appended claims What we claim is:

1. Charging mechanism for centrifugal castingmachines, including a. tilting ladle, a rock shaft to lwhich the ladle -is secured, a crank arm o n said shaft, and means for rocking said shaft, comprising a motor-driven lspeed-reducer having a crank-shaft adapted to make complete revolutions in one direction and a link-connection between the said crank-arm and crank-shaft operable during each complete revolution-of the crank-shaft to imparta rocking movement to the.rock- Y shaft to tilt and then restore the ladle to normal position.

2. Charging-mechanism for centrifugal casting machines, including a tilting ladle, a rock shaft to which the ladle is secured, a crank-arm on said shaft, and means for rocking the shaft comprising a motor-driven speed-reducer having a crank-shaft adapted to make complete revolut1ons m one direction, and a link having a lost-motion connection between the said crank-arm' and the crank-shaft operable during each 'complete revolution of the crank shaft to impart a rocking movement to the rock shaft to tilt and then restore the ladle to normal position.

3. Charging mechanism of the class described, including a tilting ladle, a rock shaft to whichl the mouth portion of the vladle is directly secured and about which it tilts as an axis, an upwardlyinclined arm secured to said shaft, a counter-weight charried by said arm and normally'influencmg ,tiltingrmovement of the ladle to pouring position, a crank-arm also secured to the rock shaft, and means for rocking the shaft comprising a motor-driven speed-reducer having a crank shaft adapted to make'complete revolutions in one direction and a link connection between the said crank-arm and crank-shaft operable during each lcomplete carriage and the electric motor 34 for tiltrevolution of the` crank-shaft to impart a.

rocking movement to the rock shaft to tilt Aand then restorey the ladle to normal position.

4. Charging mechanism 'for centrifugal 5 casting machines comprising a wheeled carriage and anelectricmotor -mounted thereon for moving the carriage, a charging s ut carriedby and projecting from one en of the carriage, a tiltable ladle mounted upon the carriage and arranged to discharge mol- \ten metal into the spout, a rock-shaft to a which the ladle is directly secured and'abput which it tilts as an axis a crank-arm on said shaft, and means for rocking the shaft comprising a motor-driven speed-reducer havmg a crank-shaft adapted to make completerevolutions in one direction and a link connection between the Said crank-arm and crank-shaft operableduring each complete `2 revolution of the crank-shaft to impart a .rocking movement to the rock-shaft to tilt and thenrestore the ladle to normal position. 1 L 5. Charging mechanisml for centrifugal 2- casting machines comprising a wheeled carriage, a motor thereon for driving the same, a tiltable ladle mounted upon the carriage, an oscillating shaft to which the ladle is di-A rectly attached at its pouring mouth and 3 9 about which it tilts as an axls said shaft having a crank-arm and aapair of upwardlyextending inclinedarms, each carrying a counter-weight normally influencing the tilting movement of the ladle, and means for 35 rocking said shaft comprising a motordriven speed-reducer having a crank-shaft adapted to make complete revolutions in one direction, anda link connection between the said crank-arm and .crank-shaft operable 4 during each lcomplete revolution of the crank-shaft Ato 'impart a-rocking movement to the rock-shaft to-tilt and then restore the f ladle to normal position, said motor-driven vspeed-reducer bein mounted upon the carria e at one side o the ladle.

igned at Birmingham in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama this 17th day of September'A. D. 1 931. f

` CLARENCE D. BARR.

i Y STEPHEN D. MOXLEY.

FRANK S.` HOUGHTON. 

